Unified Mobile Access Control via Central Mapping Table
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic access control systems are limited by their compatibility with only specific types of electronic locking devices, requiring separate and proprietary applications for each type, which hinders interoperability and convenience in managing multiple vendor-specific devices.
Innovation Solution
A multi-device electronic access control system and method that utilizes a central mapping table to store and manage access control data for various types of devices, allowing a single mobile application to communicate with multiple electronic access control devices across different vendors, enabling unified management and authorization through a graphical user interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate and proprietary mobile applications are used for each type of electronic locking device, then device-specific functionality and reliability are improved, but system complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to requiring multiple applications for different device types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single mobile application that can control multiple types of electronic locking devices from different vendors through a unified interface. The application uses a central mapping table that stores communication protocols and control parameters for various device types, allowing one application to perform multiple device-specific functions without requiring separate proprietary applications for each device type.
2Measurement precision
If separate and proprietary mobile applications are used for each type of electronic locking device, then device-specific control precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to requiring users to switch between different applications
Solution Approach 1:
The application provides device-specific control precision by maintaining separate communication protocols and control parameter sets for different device types within a single unified application. Users interact with a consistent user interface that automatically selects and applies the appropriate protocol based on the target device type, eliminating the need to switch between different applications while preserving precise device-specific control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a central mapping table as an intermediary structure that stores communication protocols, device identifiers, and control parameters. This mapping table acts as a mediator between the unified user interface and various device-specific communication protocols, allowing the application to translate high-level user commands into device-specific instructions without exposing protocol complexity to the user.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a single unified application is used for multiple device types, then ease of operation and versatility are improved, but device complexity increases due to the need to support multiple communication protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the application structure into modular components: a unified user interface layer, a central mapping table for storing device-specific protocols, and device-specific communication modules. This modular architecture allows the application to support multiple device types by loading only the relevant communication protocols needed for each device, reducing overall complexity while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The application manages complexity by dynamically changing communication parameters based on device type. The central mapping table stores different communication protocols and parameters for various device types, and the application selects and applies the appropriate parameters when communicating with a specific device. This parameter-based approach allows a single application to adapt to multiple device types without requiring separate applications for each.
4Reliability
If proprietary applications are used for each device type, then communication reliability with specific devices is improved, but loss of information increases due to inability to access control data from multiple device types through a single interface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures comprehensive information accessibility by designing a unified application that can retrieve and display access control data from multiple device types through a single interface. The central mapping table stores communication protocols and data structures for various devices, allowing the application to access and present information from different device types without requiring users to switch between separate applications, thus preventing information loss.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-device electronic access control application, method and system. Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide for an end user mobile application that inter-operates with various types of electronic locking devices in a simple, repeatable method to enable a user to unlock any make or model of electronic access control device, if they are authorized to do so at that site, time and purpose, from a single mobile application user interface. An end user mobile application may be communicably engaged with a remote application server to integrate with enterprise backend user/site data and alarm systems, such that the end user mobile application is configured to manage user authorization/authentication, site access protocols/permissions and alarm management. An electronic access control method may comprise one or more steps for authorizing a user; suppressing an alarm; and unlocking an electronic locking device with a specified method for the given access point.